With help from God, we can not only survive the trials in life but thrive!

TEN DAYS OF PRAYER FOR AMERICA

Who remembers VBS – Vacation Bible School? If you’re as old as I am, you may have slept since you were in an opening assembly. Adult Christians (like me) who are not working in VBS probably need to brush up on the various pledges that the kiddos can recite with no hesitation. I remember when I could recite them without hesitation, but as I say, I’ve slept since then. Let’s review the pledges:

Did you read them? Did you put your right hand over your heart as you read them? Okay… read them again, slowly, absorbing the meaning, with your right hand over your heart. I’ll wait. La la la la la… whistling… twiddling thumbs…

Have you truly committed to the values you were taught a long time ago back in VBS? Life gets busy and sometimes it gets too busy. As adults, we become responsible for others – and it’s as it should be. We’re supposed to grow up and expand our horizons and become contributing, responsible members of society. If you’re successful in life, it’s a good thing! If you’ve become successful in one aspect of your life while leaving behind the basic allegiances you once had for God’s Word, Christian values and your country… well, maybe it’s time to reassess the meaning of success.

Let’s say a prayer of rededication to the things of God:

Dear Heavenly Father, We the people of America are individuals. Some of us grew up in church, making VBS an essential part of our summer. We learned how to pledge allegiance to Your Holy Word, to a Christian way of life and to the belief that there should be liberty and justice for all. These are ideals and values we want to recommit to starting today. Please forgive us for letting anything else get in the way through the years. It seems the demands of life and responsibility of family has gotten in the way. We want our relationship with You to be the top priority from which all other things fall into place. You have promised in Your Word that You will bless us if we give You first place in our lives. Help us to not only make sure our children and grandchildren know these pledges by heart, but to make sure we know them and hide them deep in our hearts and minds. We know that the only way America will be a Christian nation and be blessed by You is for its citizens to individually commit to You and to Your ways. We know that there is a way that seems right to man, but it leads to death. May we not be deceived into thinking we are on a true path. We want to be on the path that leads to eternal life when this life on earth is finished. Right now we pray You will speak to our hearts and lead us in the way we should go. We hunger and thirst for You and Your righteousness. America needs You, Lord. We pray all these things in the precious Name of Jesus, Amen.

VBS June 1971… that’s how it’s done – you round-up the neighborhood kids and haul ’em to the church. BOOM! LOL. 🙂